Local pennant and social bowls is back in full swing. Campbells Creek Weekend Division 9 Team continued on their winning way with a convincing win over Bendigo VRI at home, this leaves them sitting top of the ladder after two rounds. The club’s Weekend Division 5 team and Midweek Division 3 went down to their opponents but hope to bounce back this week. See the Mail for all the latest local bowls results.
Creek rolls into action
Explore Mica Grange
This weekend is your last chance to enjoy the wonders of spring at the Mica Grange Open Garden Sculpture Exhibition.
Property owners Mary and Bede Gibson say with abundant rains and the roses in full bloom, the gardens at their Sutton Grange property have never looked better.
“The spacious gardens are full of creative ideas to enhance the beauty and enjoyment of your own garden,” Mary said.
There are 16 sculptors exhibiting in this year’s exhibition and a vast array of garden art including a variety of wind spinners, plus plants and preserves, all for sale.
Morning tea, a light lunch and afternoon tea are served on the spacious decking or at tables set up around the garden. Bookings are not required as there is plenty of seating available.
You will find Mica Grange at 373 Faraday Sutton Grange Road, Sutton Grange. Contact: 0499 897 242 or 0409 322 413 or visit www.micagrange.com for more information. Entry: $7 Adults, children free.
Proof of Double Vaccination is required for entry.
Lighting the way
Come nightfall each evening during the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign the Castlemaine Town Hall is being lit up with a visual vigil created by Castlemaine artist Jim Coad.
The lights are on between 9pm and 10pm each night until the campaign winds up next Friday December 10 (International Human Rights Day).
Mount Alexander Shire Council is leading the ’16 Days’ campaign locally with support from a working group which includes members from the community and Loddon Mallee Women’s Health, and with funding from Domestic Violence Victoria and the Domestic Violence Resource Centre.
Best regional main street win
Eve Lamb
Go to Maldon any day of the week and it’s easy to see the pop-up project that’s reinvented the town’s Old Bank Corner in the middle of town is a winner.
The number of people generally gathered there chatting, having lunch or coffee or simply taking a break is the giveaway that this is one project that’s gone down well with locals and visitors alike.
But now it’s official after the project took out Victoria’s Best Regional Main Street award at the Mainstreet Australia Awards announced in St Kilda last Friday.
“I’m really chuffed. We love a challenge,” said Anna Winneke of The Salvage Yard in Castlemaine.
Anna and The Salvage Yard did the design work and also the physical installation work involved, with Mount Alexander Shire Council overseeing the project using state government public outdoor dining space funding – a response to the economic impacts of the pandemic.
Work happened in the first half of this year, delivering a pleasant outdoor public sitting and dining space using an eclectic mix of recycled materials and plants.
The project was robustly supported by Maldon Inc. Read more in today’s Mail…
Epic concert in the hall
Eve Lamb
Music lovers are in for a treat this weekend with the region’s 50-piece Resonance String Orchestra set to dispense Epic, the concert, live in Castlemaine Town Hall tomorrow afternoon.
Led by Zoe Knighton of Victoria’s acclaimed Flinders Quartet, the vibrant community string orchestra is made up of adult and student members who live in Macedon Ranges and Mount Alexander shire areas.
Members like Castlemaine’s Sue Proeve, Orvokki Britton and Anais Kerr say tomorrow’s 3pm matinee concert is a special one as it’s the first time the orchestra’s two chapters – based in Woodend and Castlemaine – have come together to perform in public.
“I just moved here at the start of the year from Mansfield and I love music so much, so being able to walk in here and find this is a dream come true,” says Orvokki Britton among the orchestra’s young violin players and completing year nine at Castlemaine Secondary College.
“After working with them for a year to be able to get out and perform is going to be amazing.”
Another of the orchestra’s Castlemaine violin players, Sue Proeve says to tomorrow’s concert will present a wide variety of music.
Sue also says it’s a great chance for those interested in joining the orchestra themselves to get along and see what they’re all about.
“Come along to the concert,” Sue says. Read more in today’s Mail…
Big rigs roll in…
All roads will lead to Campbells Creek this Sunday November 28 for the 33rd annual Rotary Castlemaine Truck Show.
Among those to take part will be Ian McClure of McClure Earthmoving in his father Malcolm’s 1982 Mack R Model.
Ian recently had the 320 horsepower rig restored by the talented Peter ‘Clapo’ Clapton of Sherwood Restorations at Chewton and is thrilled with the final result.
Ian took the truck’s long time driver Don Finning out to check out the revamped Mack on Tuesday, and Don was thrilled to see the old girl looking as good as the first day he climbed into the cabin.
Ian and brother Gary had long planned to have the truck restored and are delighted it has been completed in time for the Truck Show. See the Mail for the full story. Out Now.
Supporting our frontline workers
Local volunteers from the Rapid Relief Team (RRT) in Castlemaine have donated 100 Comfort Snack Packs to healthcare workers at the Castlemaine Health/CHIRP Community Health COVID-19 testing clinic.
The Comfort Snack Packs contain a number of tasty goodies, including nutritional muesli bars, fruit cups, cheese and crackers, and some sweets.
RRT local team leader for Castlemaine Eben Pudney said the donation was a small token of appreciation to the local healthcare workers.
“The pandemic has created many challenges for Australians, particularly for our healthcare workers,” Mr Pudney said.
“We’d like to thank the workers at the Castlemaine COVID-19 testing clinic who have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to keep the community safe – putting the needs of others above their own,” he said. See the Mail for more…
High flyers
The Castlemaine Cannons Basketball Association Men’s competition resumed on Sunday. Two of the local sides are pictured in action at the War Memorial Stadium. A short sharp Women’s comp and Junior competition also starts shortly and Mini Hoops has returned. Check out the Castlemaine Cannons Basketball Association Facebook page to learn more about how you can get involved in our local basketball association. Photo: Max Lesser.
Summer Art exhibition to be unveiled
The Summer Art exhibition at Castlemaine’s historic Market Building is set to officially open to the public tomorrow, November 27.
Mount Alexander Shire Council customer services manager Aileen Walsh said dozens of talented local artists have contributed works to the Summer Art exhibition with a wide range of themes and genres represented.
“The works are for sale which is a great way for us to support our local artists after a tough couple of years. Visitors are welcome to take their chosen piece home with them and we will be constantly updating the exhibition which means there is always something new for locals to see when they pop in,” she said.
Hospital consultation closes Sunday
There are just three days left for Mount Alexander community members to provide feedback in the survey into the proposed unification of Maldon Hospital and Castlemaine Health, as it closes this Sunday November 28 at midnight.
Feedback from the community is being sought via the survey shared on the websites of Castlemaine Health and Maldon Hospital, community social media pages, and is also available in hard copy.
In Maldon the survey can be collected from Maldon Hospital, Maldon Pharmacy and Maldon Butchers.
In Castlemaine, the survey is available from Castlemaine Health, Castlemaine Community Centre and Mount Alexander Shire Council.
Maldon Hospital board chair Vanessa Healy said they’ve had more than 100 of surveys returned so far, a terrific response.
“I’ve been interested to hear about some of the services Maldon residents are excited about accessing such as podiatry. We’ve also heard the message that the name at Maldon Hospital must not change, which we can again reassure the community about,” she said.
“We are still seeking feedback, so if you haven’t filled in the survey, please go online and let us know what you think,” Ms Healy said.
New mayor Maltby
Eve Lamb
Castlemaine’s Bill Maltby is the new mayor for Mount Alexander Shire Council following a contested vote at this week’s council meeting.
With the one-year term for outgoing mayor, Calder Ward’s Cr Tony Cordy, now expiring, the election of a new mayor and deputy was a routine item on the agenda for Tuesday evening’s council meeting.
During the meeting Cr Gary McClure nominated Castlemaine Ward’s Cr Bill Maltby who was quick to accept the nomination after earlier successfully moving a motion for the new mayoral term to be a one year – rather than a two year – term.
However, Tarrengower Ward’s Cr Stephen Gardner then nominated Castlemaine Ward’s Cr Rosie Annear as mayor, with that nomination, also accepted.
When it came to the vote, councillors McClure, Maltby, Driscoll and outgoing mayor Cordy all voted in favour of Cr Maltby.
Councillors Gardner, Henderson and Annear voted in favour of Cr Annear, resulting in Cr Maltby succeeding 4:3 before donning the mayoral robes and being sworn in to the top post at the council table. Read more in today’s Mail…
Salvos Christmas appeal gets started
Eve Lamb
The countdown to Christmas has begun in earnest with Castlemaine’s Salvos launching their annual Christmas appeal following an upsurge in calls for assistance.
“In the last month or two the need for assistance has definitely gone up,” the Salvation Army’s Captain Annita Allman said.
“We’ve seen a bigger need with some people out of work because of COVID.
“We are seeing some new families contacting us for assistance.”
Captain David Allman says the impacts of COVID have exacerbated hardship for local households already doing it tough in the lead up to the often costly Christmas festive season.
The two local Salvation Army captains are encouraging everyone who is in a position to be able to help to pitch in and donate to their annual Christmas appeal launched in Castlemaine this week.
While Christmas is a time of joy and celebration for many, others doing it tough in our community find it an extremely difficult period for them personally,” Captain Allman says. Read more in today’s Mail…
